Villanova ranks No. 6 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Wildcats finished 10-3 last year, losing 23-12 in the FCS quarterfinals to South Dakota State.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Villanova football squad.
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Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (6)
2nd Team
LB Brendan Bell
CB Isas Waxter
S Ty Trinh
3rd Team
QB Connor Watkins
OL Temi Ajirotutu
Honorable Mention
LB Shane Hartzell
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (5)
Ethan Gettman (K), Bryant
Gilbert Deglau (OL), Davidson
Kaleb Moody (DB), Harvard
Devin Smith (WR), North Carolina Central
Chuck Smith (DL), Wofford
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (0)
Transfers Lost To The FCS (2)
Kshawn Schulters (DB) to Monmouth
Jaden Rolling (OL) to Robert Morris
Transfers Lost To The FBS (3)
Mitchell Bothwell (TE) to Boise State
Wyatt Hummel (OL) to Colorado
Devon Marshall (DB) to NC State
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Offensive Outlook
Villanova returns six offensive starters and seven defensive starters, plus it has added five All-Conference FCS transfers.
Veteran and dual-threat quarterback Connor Watkins will lead the offense again. Watkins enters his sixth season at Villanova and his third as a starter. In 2022, he threw for 2,057 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, plus 467 yards and nine scores on the ground. Last year, the Third Team All-CAA selection went 152/269 passing for 2,681 yards, 20 TDs, and 10 interceptions along with 378 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. His 157.4 passing efficiency ranked 10th in the FCS.
Villanova has to replace its top three rushers from last season: Jalen Jackson, TD Ayo-Durojaiye, and DeeWil Barlee. Jackson and Ayo-Durojaiye received NFL opportunities this spring.
Two of Nova’s top three wide receivers also got NFL opportunities: Jaaron Hayek and Rayjuon Pringle.
That’s plenty of lost production in the backfield and at wide receiver for an offense that scored 31.9 points per game (17th in the FCS).
But Watkins will have two great WR targets in 2024. Jaylan Sanchez returns after finishing second on the team with 716 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 28 catches. His 25.57 yards per reception ranked No. 1 in the FCS. The Wildcats added Devin Smith via the transfer portal, a two-time All-MEAC wide receiver for a solid North Carolina Central team. Smith had 1,518 career receiving yards and 15 TDs at NC Central.
Starting tight end Antonio Johnson returns as well. He had nine catches for 100 yards and a TD last year while being a key blocker in the run game.
On the o-line, Villanova brings back three starters: Third Team All-CAA Temi Ajirotutu (6-5, 310 lbs), Stephane Voltaire (6-5, 315 lbs), and Jake Picard (6-4, 305 lbs).
Nova also signed Gilbert Deglau (6-5, 285 lbs), a two-time All-Pioneer Football League selection for a run-heavy Davidson team.
Defensive Outlook
Seven starters return after ranking 13th in FCS scoring defense (18.8 points per game), plus two FCS transfers who earned All-Conference honors at their previous school.
Villanova will be especially veteran at linebacker and in the secondary in its 3-3-5 base defense. Experience and depth on the d-line is a question mark.
The top two tacklers from last year — linebackers Shane Hartzell and Brendan Bell — are back.
Hartzell was an All-CAA Honorable Mention selection, finishing with a team-high 91 tackles, including six TFLs and four sacks. He was PFF’s No. 4-graded FCS linebacker. Bell earned All-Conference Second Team accolades, tallying 89 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, and three sacks.
Cornerback Isas Waxter and safety Ty Trinh are coming back after All-CAA Second Team seasons. Waxter also earned All-American accolades after grading out as PFF’s No. 3 FCS CB and totaling 26 tackles, four TFLs, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups. Trinh recorded 46 tackles, three TFLs, one interception, and five pass breakups.
Jalen Goodman is a multi-year starting safety with 196 career tackles. Ethan Potter returns as well, a key safety in Nova’s five-man secondary who has 148 career tackles.
Up front, Chandon Pierre (22 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks) is back as Villanova’s lone returning starter on the d-line. But the Wildcats landed DL Chuck Smith from the transfer portal. He started three seasons at Wofford, earned Phil Steele All-SoCon honors, and totaled 103 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks in 32 games.
Nova also signed DB Kaleb Moody from Harvard. Moody was a 2023 All-Ivy League Honorable Mention after tallying 57 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups.
Another FCS transfer signee for the Wildcats is kicker Ethan Gettman from Bryant, a 2022 All-American.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Villanova Football Schedule
8/29 vs No. 23 Youngstown State
9/7 at Colgate
9/14 vs Towson
9/21 at Maryland
9/28 vs LIU
10/5 at Stony Brook
10/19 at Maine
10/26 vs New Hampshire
11/2 at Hampton
11/9 vs North Carolina A&T
11/16 at Monmouth
11/23 vs No. 19 Delaware
Bold indicates CAA games
HERO Sports’ rankings
